“Happily married couples are an inspiration!” That was the takeaway message from my keynote address at the Black Marriage Day banquet this past Saturday night. And what a wonderful night it was! I must say it was such an inspiring night seeing so many black couples dressed up and having a great time together. One of the highlights for me, though, was looking at the couples dance together and seeing how much fun they had doing it. I thought to myself “what if doctors could prescribe dancing as a cure for ailments…then you could have fun while getting better!” Then I thought one step further…maybe dancing could ACTUALLY be a treatment for some relationship ailments. Follow me to see how dancing might be just what the doctor ordered for your relationship! Here are 4 things I noticed. Let me explain…
You’re Carefree
The first thing I noticed while couples danced was how care free they were. I could almost guarantee they weren’t thinking about their children, the bills that need to be paid, or the petty argument they had in the car. For once they were living in the moment and their only care was swinging their hips in the right direction.
You’re Working Together
The second thing I noticed was the absence of the power struggle. As I watched the couples dance the men were leading the dances and the women were happily following…neither was trying to edge the other out. There wasn’t a power trip based on who makes the most money and there wasn’t anyone looking for any emotional leverage. The ultimate trust was shown when the men would go in for that “dip” move, and their wives trusted that their husbands would not let them fall to the floor. They gracefully dipped a few inches and were swooped back up just in time, as they knew they would be.
You’re Having Fun
The other thing that stood out was how much FUN everyone was having. I saw so many smiles and even though some of the ladies were sweating a little they weren’t concerned about their hair poofing up or their makeup smearing. Even guys with bum knees or the ones struggling to keep up with the pace of the music still hung in there. The only focus was on getting down! It was easy for me to see why there were so many smiles on the dance floor; it’s pretty hard to be mad at someone that you’re having that much fun with! I bet for many of those couples it was a trip down memory lane that helped them reminisce on how things used to be and how they could still be. I’m reminded of the hands in the air and smiles I saw when Pharrell’s song “HAPPY” came on!
You’re Grown and Sexy
Finally…..it was SEXY! The mere act of dancing and touching is so sensual. The clasping of hands, bodies swerving in tune with the beat, pulling the one you love closer and whispering sweet nothings in the ear had intimacy written all over it. For some it may have been that spark they needed to remind them how to, and that it was time to reconnect. I’m convinced that even if some of those couples hadn’t been intimate in a while I bet a good handful got lucky last night!
Whether it’s the Chicago step, salsa, tango, or a more sophisticated “twerk”, dancing together may be something that you and your significant other can do for fun or to help you reconnect. We all can use a little 2 step from time to time!
BMWK Fam: What are some fun activities like dancing you do to stay connected with your mate?